Duck Pond from Circa

The enchantment of Swan Lake, the thrill of the circus

M A R G O R P UVENIR

photograher damien bredberg

SO

WORLD PREMIERE | 5-8 JULY 2023 | PLAYHOUSE, QPAC

DUCK POND IS CO-COMMISSIONED BY QPAC AND THE ARTS CENTER AT NYU ABU DHABI; THE ART HOUSE WYONG; FRANKSTON ARTS CENTRE; HOTA - HOME OF THE ARTS; MERRIGONG THEATRE COMPANY AND ORANGE CIVIC THEATRE.

QPAC and Circa respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands across Queensland and pay respect to their ancestors who came before them and to Elders past and present.

E T O N S ’ R DIRECTO

If a cliché is an archetype that didn’t go to university, then a fairy tale is a myth that didn’t graduate high school. Swan Lake and The Ugly Duckling have all the trappings of the great myths – everyone knows them or feels like they do, they speak of deep, hidden truths, they are immutable and yet endlessly iterable and they seem to have always been here.

Both are tales of identity and discovery. A woman who is cursed to be a swan is doomed to destruction by her other and an ostracised duckling discovers they are actually a swan. In Duck Pond these two myths collide. Swan Lake seems to be gaining the upper hand – for sheer romantic ebullience and untrammelled beauty it is hard to surpass.

The Ugly Duckling is an essential counterpoint – it adds vital naivete, anarchy and humour. And together they mash to create something new – neither quite ballet nor circus, familiar yet strange, rich yet playful, moving yet accessible; so, quintessentially, Circa.

Yaron Lifschitz Artistic Director, Circa

E M O C L E QPAC W

One of the hallmarks of Circa’s approach to storytelling is their impressive knack for finding nuance and threads to unravel to explore a narrative. No matter how well you think you know a tale, Yaron and his team will give it an unexpected twist.

Duck Pond is a quintessential example of this approach: a classic romantic ballet reimagined as a playful and genre-defying acrobatic performance for an audience that spans generations.

Anticipation always runs high when QPAC partners with Circa on the development of a new work and our confidence in this company to deliver remarkable and exciting productions is not unique. Duck Pond was co-commissioned with seven other venues – both Australian and international.

I hope you enjoy this world premiere season of Duck Pond, a work I am sure will take its place in Circa’s extraordinary repertoire to be enjoyed the world over.

John Kotzas AM Chief Executive, QPAC

Created by Yaron Lifschitz with the Circa ensemble Director, Stage Design Yaron Lifschitz Composer and Sound Designer Jethro Woodward Costume Designer Libby McDonnell Head of Wardrobe Anna Handford Lighting Designer Alexander Berlage Dramaturg and Associate Choreographer Rani Luther Associate Director Marty Evans Wing Maker Alice de Groot AV Consultant Stephen Brodie (Buck Outdoor) Footage of brutal swan fight used with the kind permission of Carl Bovis Duck Pond is co-commissioned by QPAC and the Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi; the Art House Wyong; Frankston Arts Centre; HOTA - Home of the Arts; Merrigong Theatre Company and Orange Civic Theatre.

Circa acknowledges the assistance of the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

Circa is based in Meanjin (Brisbane) on the lands of the Jagera and Turrbal people. We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the many lands on which we create and perform. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

Always was. Always will be.

S I S P O N SY PROLOGUE Cupid appears in a flash.

ACT 1 The palace, a dream It is the night before the Prince’s birthday. Various friends, prospective partners and assorted revellers engage in acrobatically-infused merriments. A pillow mishap abruptly ends the party. In a brief encounter the Prince meets the Ugly Duckling and, with the help of Cupid, they fall in love. Romantic duets follow.

Reality soon intrudes. It could never be that a humble duck and a magnificent prince could be together. The Duck Army comes to console the Ugly Duckling.

She leaves somewhat cheerier.

The Black Swan appears. Soon it’s time for the Ball where the Black Swan and Prince are feted, but something is amiss.

ACT 2 The lake A lake with swans. We marvel above and below the water. In despair, the Ugly Duckling decides to throw herself into the swans. Unexpectedly she flies!

She is, in fact, a swan.

The Black Swan appears. She and the White Swan fall eternally in love. Duets of love follow. The Prince, confused and devastated, implodes as the two enamoured swans head into the sunset.

ACT 3 The theatre We catch a glimpse of what swans are like in nature. It’s almost time to go home but as we pack up the theatre, true identities are revealed and real magic – the kind that does not depend on swans, tutus or spells – is rekindled.

NOTE: Duck Pond is having its world-premiere season at QPAC so it’s possible the story may change a little between the printing of this synopsis and the show you will be watching.

That’s the adventure of being a part of a new creation!

S E V I T A E R C DIRECTOR Yaron Lifschitz

COMPOSER AND SOUND DESIGNER Jethro Woodward

COSTUME DESIGNER Libby McDonnell

Yaron Lifschitz is a graduate of the University of New South Wales, University of Queensland, and National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA), where he was the youngest director ever accepted into its prestigious graduate director’s course.

Since graduating, Yaron has directed over 80 productions including large-scale events, opera, theatre, physical theatre, and circus.

Jethro Woodward is a Melbournebased composer, musical director, arranger, musician and sound designer recognised for his expansive and highly layered film, theatre and dance scores. A multi– Green Room Award winner and Helpmann nominee, he has worked with some of Australia’s leading major and independent companies including; Malthouse Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Opera Victoria and more.

Libby is a designer and choreographer and she is currently Head of Design at Circa. Libby works in diverse genres and forms. At the heart of her work is people and movement.

His work has been seen in over 40 countries and across six continents by over one and a half million people and has won numerous awards including six Helpmann Awards and the Australia Council Theatre Award.

His productions have been presented at major festivals and venues around the world including Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Barbican, Les Nuits de Fourvière, Chamäleon and all the major Australian festivals. His film work was selected for the Berlin and Melbourne Film Festivals. He was founding Artistic Director of the Australian Museum’s Theatre Unit, Head Tutor in Directing at Australian Theatre for Young People and has been a regular guest tutor in directing at NIDA. He is currently Artistic Director and CEO of Circa and was Creative Director of Festival 2018: the arts and cultural program of the 21st Commonwealth Games.

A composition graduate from the Victorian College of the Arts, Jethro draws upon his detailed understanding of contemporary music and its uses in live performance, including innovative uses of technology, combining live instrumentation with prerecorded, electronic, musical and sound elements into a seamless flexible and responsive score.

Jethro regularly tours his work internationally and has won Green Room Awards for his work on; The Bloody Chamber (Malthouse Theatre), Moth (Malthouse Theatre/Arena Theatre), Goodbye Vaudeville Charlie Mudd (Malthouse Theatre/ Arena Theatre) and Irony Is Not Enough (Fragment 31).

Libby has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) in Visual Art from Queensland College of Art Griffith University and an Associate Degree in Dance from Queensland University of Technology. Her professional career has included performing and making independent dance work, as an Artistic Director of Ballet Theatre of Queensland and Choreographer for Blue Room Theatre Company. For 11 years Libby has worked with the team at Circa to imagine, develop and deliver their productions locally, nationally and internationally. During her time at Circa she has designed costumes for over 30 productions, co-directed three main stage productions and led many of the company’s engagement projects including the pilot of the Circability program.

Libby is based in Brisbane with her family.

HEAD OF WARDROBE Anna Handford

LIGHTING DESIGNER Alexander Berlage

DRAMATURG AND ASSOCIATE CHOREOGRAPHER Rani Luther

Anna is a designer, stylist and seamstress and is currently the Head of Wardrobe for Duck Pond at Circa. Anna’s interest in theatre started in school and her passion for the arts led her to Circa in 2018. Anna trained at London College of Fashion and University of the Creative Arts and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design. Her professional career has seen her work on films and television as a stylist, both as a freelancer and for a BBC Comedy Series in 2009.

Anna moved to Queensland in 2011 and worked as Wardrobe Assistant at Queensland Theatre and Queensland Ballet and for an athletics company as a seamstress. Anna loves working alongside the artistic team at Circa to bring their vision to life and sourcing, making and sewing new costumes for the stage.

Alexander Berlage is an award-winning director and lighting designer. He is co-artistic director of the Old Fitz Theatre.

Alexander has won the Sydney Theatre Award Best Direction of a Musical for the past two years in a row – for American Psycho and Cry-Baby at Hayes Theatre Co.

Rani Luther was born in Melbourne and attended the National Theatre Ballet School before completing her education at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School.

Rani’s professional dance career began with the Kiel Ballet Company Germany in 1995 before moving to the Netherlands where she danced with world-renowned Netherlands Dance Theatre 2 and Netherlands Dance Theatre. In 2003 Rani returned home to dance with The Australian Ballet for four years, joined Sydney Dance Company in 2007 and retired from stage as a principal dancer with Melbourne Ballet Company in 2011.

As a lighting designer, Alexander has worked for Sydney Theatre Company, Opera Queensland, Circa, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Sydney Chamber Opera, Sydney Dance Company, Griffin Theatre, Ensemble Theatre, Hayes Theatre Co., Australian Theatre for Young People, and Redline Productions.

Alexander holds a Bachelor of Dramatic Art (Production) and a Master of Fine Art (Directing) from the National Institute for Dramatic Art, Sydney. In 2019, Alexander was awarded a Mike Walsh Fellowship.

In 2019 Rani was appointed Ballet Mistress and Creative Associate for Queensland Ballet and in 2022-2023 Creative Associate for Queensland Ballet and Thomas Dixon Centre in which Rani curated the Secret Lives of Costumes exhibition in collaboration with Griffith University Queensland Conservatory of Art, produced, curated, and choreographed four Global Fusion series performances in collaboration with Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre, and curated, produced and choreographed the Encore season in November 2022.

Rani founded Flourish by Rani Luther in 2023.

CAST ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AND CIRCA ARTIST Marty Evans Marty Evans came to circus by a more roundabout route than most. After watching nothing but circus videos during his lunchbreaks at Australia’s only nuclear reactor, Marty left behind his published scientific career, embracing his physical sports background to pursue a career in circus.

His first taste of circus came at the University of Sydney in 2010 as he tried to entertain himself during free periods by learning to throw people into the air and trying to catch them again. Marty trained at the National Institute of Circus Arts in Melbourne. He is a fiercely determined and hardworking hand-to-hand base that enjoys exploring new challenges and techniques.

Marty joined the Circa Ensemble full time in 2015, and has been involved in the creation of numerous Circa productions including When One Door Closes and Humans.

Jon Bonaventura Discovered on a friend’s trampoline in Melbourne, Jon caught his big break at the age of 12, working as a stunt double for Warner Brothers Where The Wild Things Are. After over a decade in gymnastics, Jon went on to study at the National Institute of Circus Arts, specialising in rope. Jon graduated in 2014 and began touring independent projects around Australia before performing internationally with some of the country’s best circus companies – Circa, Casus and Circus Oz. Jon can be found hiding in a cafe, hanging from his rope or standing on people all around the world.

Holly-Rose Boyer Growing up in Albury, HollyRose was introduced to dance at the age of two and fell in love with all things performing after joining her local cheer and dance studio.

In 2014, Holly-Rose auditioned for a place in the Flying Fruit Fly Circus, where she trained in handstands, hand to hand, aerial straps and tumbling under the mentorship of Loic Marques and Nick Hutchinson.

During her time at the Flying Fruit Fly Circus, Holly-Rose toured JUNK both in Australia and internationally. She also took part in Sydney Festival’s Nanjing Project, while travelling to Melbourne most weekends for additional dance training and performances.

Graduating in 2021, Holly-Rose packed her life into two suitcases and moved to Brisbane to start the next chapter with Circa. Outside

of circus, Holly-Rose loves swimming at the beach and dogs, especially pugs.

Oscar Morris Born and raised in Brisbane, Oscar fell in love with circus at the age of eight when he was enrolled in youth circus classes at Flipside Circus. He trained primarily under Alex Weckes-Huck and Amy Stuart, specialising in various forms of ground acrobatics including hand to hand, banquine, and group acrobatics, as well as juggling. Since graduating from Flipside’s performance troupe in 2021, Oscar has worked as an independent artist around Brisbane performing with companies such as Sparkle Society, Collective Circus, Counterpilot and Casus Creations.

When not doing circus, Oscar enjoys listening, playing and writing music – with him being able to play several instruments including; piano, double bass, bass guitar, guitar, percussion, and the smallest amount of trombone.

Paul O’Keeffe Paul, aka ‘the human whippet, dexterous daredevil, neat freak and mister fixit,’ had his first professional gig in 1996 playing one of the lead roles in Company Skylark’s Wake Baby. Since then, he has toured the world from outback Australia to 42nd Street/ Broadway, New York performing in circus, dance, puppetry, musical and physical theatre.

Off stage, Paul co-founded circus company Kronik, co-set up a professional circus training studio in Melbourne,

co-managed Warehouse Circus, ran independent circus troupes, and co-coordinated and implemented a number of circus workshops including one for 10,000 scouts over a 10-day period.

Paul used to believe in his own immortality, now he just believes he’s a nut. He joined Circa as a full-time ensemble member in 2013.

Kimberley Rossi Kimberley grew up in Queensland, and as a Brisbane local it didn’t take long before she stumbled upon Circa.

Beginning her circus training at age 13, in just three short years she was given the opportunity to be the first member of Fast Track, a program designed for young and aspiring performers within Circa. With the support of her family, Kimberley decided to leave school and pursue a career in the circus industry. Shortly after, she found herself on a plane flying out to perform her first show Nocturne in Seoul, South Korea.

Over the years Kimberley has been a part of over 30 productions, visited some of the world’s most beautiful locations and logged over 4000 hours in her favourite video game.

Sophie Seccombe Sophie has loved free movement since she was born.

Her slightly impetuous nature led her parents to enrol her in ballet lessons when she was two, and competitive gymnastics a few years after that. While formal training gave

her a foundation, she preferred handstands in trees and acrobatics on the roof.

Sophie discovered circus at the West End markets in 2021. Immediately enthralled, circus exposed her to a world where gymnastics could be meshed with artistic expression without constraints. After a year of coaching by members of Gravity & Other Myths, she began touring nationally and internationally in Rouge.

Outside of acrobatics Sophie may be found listening to Mazzy Star and swimming in any body of water she can find.

Zachery Stephens Zachery began his circus career following in the footsteps of his siblings, and aspires to one day perform alongside them. With a background in competitive gymnastics and Olympic weightlifting, Zachery is no stranger to lifting weight above himself and has a terrible habit of asking anyone regardless of size to stand on him.

Undertaking his circus studies at the National Institute of Circus Arts, he has trained for four years as a hand balancer and hand to hand base. However, his true love and the place where Zachery thrives most is in an ensemble, where he can explore group acrobatics in collaboration with creative movement.

Zachery’s ambition as an artist is to become as versatile as possible, to never become comfortable and most importantly, to show the world why circus is the most powerful and beautiful expression of what it means to be human.

Georgia Webb Born and raised in outback Western Australia, Georgia was a competitive gymnast and dancer for 13 years. This background gave her the discipline and work ethic which now informs her circus practice.

After both parents insisted that their only child join the military, Georgia decided to forgo those plans to follow her own dream of running away with the circus. Graduating from the National Institute of Circus Arts in 2019, Georgia joined Circa as a full-time ensemble member in January 2020. In her spare time Georgia enjoys motorbike riding, surfing and free diving.

She also hopes to travel the world skydiving someday.

Violetta Van Geyzel Vi is a playful, adventure loving circus artist drawn to quirky, inquisitive work. Vi grew up in Queensland, competing in artistic gymnastics. As her love for competing faded she moved to Melbourne to pursue performing arts. She graduated NICA in 2020 having specialised in partner acrobatics and aerial rope.

Support Circa At Circa we ask ‘what is possible in circus’, touring bold new works of contemporary circus across the globe; stirring hearts, transforming perceptions and engaging communities.

And each Circa creation starts in Brisbane, with artists and an idea.

It is here that we create our powerful and moving performances; that we nurture the next generation of talent; that we collaborate; we dream.

Support us to create the future of circus here at home and around the world.

Donate now circa.org.au/support

“The mighty Circa” Lyn Gardner, The Guardian Circa Contemporary Circus is one of the world’s leading performance companies. Since 2004, from its base in Brisbane, Australia, Circa has toured the world performing in 40+ countries to over 1.5 million people.

Circa’s works have been greeted with standing ovations, rave reviews and sold-out houses across six continents.

the Barbican Centre, Les Nuits de Fourvière, Chamäleon Theatre as well as major Australian Festivals.

Circa is at the forefront of the new wave of contemporary Australian circus – pioneering how extreme physicality can create powerful and moving performances. It continues to push the boundaries of the art form, blurring the lines between movement, dance, theatre and circus. Compelled by the question ‘what is possible in circus?’ Circa is leading the way with a diverse range of thrilling creations that ‘redraw the limits to which circus can aspire.’ The Age.

Circa is committed to fostering the next generation of circus artists and runs Circa Academy from its studio in Brisbane.

Circa also runs regular circus programs with communities throughout Queensland and around Australia.

Under the direction of circus visionary Yaron Lifschitz, Circa features an ensemble of exceptional, multi-skilled circus artists who have been a regular fixture at leading festivals and venues in New York, London, Berlin and Montreal with seasons at Brooklyn Academy of Music,

Visit circa.org.au to find a Circa performance near you and discover why Circa has been hailed as nothing short of “... a revolution in the spectacle of circus.” Les Echos.

As a champion of live performance, Circa was the Creative Lead for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games arts and cultural program.

Discover more about Circa by subscribing to enews at circa.org.au and following the company on

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BOARD Chair Michael Lynch AO CBE

INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

Treasurer Ric Roach

Shaun Comerford/Circa Commercial Projects

Directors MJ Bellotti, Christopher Brady, Kerry Comerford, Dr Anita Heiss AM, Alanna Herbst

Antonin Coutouly/Book Your Show France

Secretary Courtney Tuttle

Wolfgang Hoffmann/Aurora Nova Worldwide booking and coordination Danielle Kellie/Circa Australia and New Zealand

Artistic Director and CEO Yaron Lifschitz Executive Director Shaun Comerford Executive Producer Danielle Kellie International Director Danielle Devery

Yaron Lifschitz/Circa New creations and big dreams Allen Moon/David Lieberman Artists’ Representatives USA, Canada, Central and South America

Head of Touring Lisa McCready Producer Charmaine Childs

ENSEMBLE

Associate Producers Kayla Cahill and Jodie Roche-Jones

Jon Bonaventura

Head of Production Mark Middleton Production Managers Bryce Holmes and Laura Holmes Technical Coordinator Luke Laidler Associate Directors Benjamin Knapton and Kristen Maloney

Holly-Rose Boyer Rhiannon Cave-Walker Marty Evans Chelsea Hall Ally Humphris – Circa Cairns Ensemble Member Sam Letch

Circa Cairns – Artistic Director Harley Mann

Gerramy Marsden

Circa Cairns – Company Manager Baeley Dear

Oscar Morris

Head of Design Libby McDonnell

Daniel O’Brien

Costume Coordinator Anna Handford

Kathryn O’Keeffe

Head of Finance Renee Fletcher

Paul O’Keeffe

Senior Finance Officer Israt Jahan Tinni

Jillibalu Riley – Circa Cairns Ensemble Member

Head of Operations and Administration Courtney Tuttle

Kimberley Rossi

Company Administrator Laura Coutts

Zachery Stephens

Administration Coordinator Leyla Stanbridge

Lachlan Sukroo

Head of Circa Academy Alice Muntz

Violetta Van Geyzel

Circa Academy Head Trainer Vanessa McGregor

Billie Wilson-Coffey

Marketing Coordinator Claire Holland

Christina Zauner

Sophie Seccombe

Georgia Webb

QUEENSLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE PO Box 3567, South Bank, Queensland 4101 T: (07) 3840 7444 W: qpac.com.au

Chair Professor Peter Coaldrake AO

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Deputy Chair Leigh Tabrett PSM

The Queensland Performing Arts Trust is a statutory body of the State of Queensland and is partially funded by the Queensland Government

Trust Members Julian Myers, Georgina Richters, Susan Rix AM, Murray Saylor

Executive Staff Chief Executive: John Kotzas AM Executive Director – Visitor Experience: Jackie Branch Executive Director – Philanthropy and Partnerships: Zoë Connolly Executive Director – Marketing and Ticketing: Roxanne Hopkins Executive Director – Venue Infrastructure and Production Services: Bill Jessop Executive Director – Curatorial: Jono Perry Executive Director – Business Performance: Kieron Roost

The Honourable Leeanne Enoch MP: Minister for Treaty, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Minister for Communities and Minister for the Arts Director-General, Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts: Ms Clare O’Connor

We pay our respects to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestors of this land, their spirits and their legacy. The foundations laid by these ancestors – our First Nations Peoples – gives strength, inspiration and courage to current and future generations, both Indigenous and nonIndigenous, towards creating a better Queensland.

QPAC warmly thanks our key donors who help us engage broadly across the state and continue enriching lives through performing arts.

Tim Fairfax AC and Gina Fairfax AC, Dr Lee and Professor Peter Coaldrake AO, Leigh Tabrett PSM, Susan Rix AM, Dr Sally Pitkin AO, Dare Power, Dr Cathryn Mittelheuser AM, Queensland Community Foundation, de Groots Charitable Fund, Sandi Hoskins, Klaus Beckmann, Barbara Snelling, Jill Hutchins, Leigh Wheeler, Frank and Karen Alpert, Alison Iverach, Jenny Morton, John Ryan, Margaret Heggie, Natalie Nelson, Ben Castleton, Helen Astbury, Meg Bock, Anthony Wade-Cooper and several donors who wish to remain anonymous.

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